Wrestlers improve with each trip to the mat

COLUMBUS—Gothenburg wrestlers faced tough competition against schools of all classes during the Nebraska Duals over the weekend in Columbus.

The Swedes took some lumps, winning only two of their nine duals, but coach Tom Scott said the two-day meet offered plenty of mat time despite a limited lineup.

“We got better from the first dual to the ninth,” Scott said. “The kids got a lot more aggressive and were really working hard.”

In their third round, Gothenburg narrowly defeated High Plains 39-36 and then beat Omaha Bryan in the first dual of the day on Saturday 33-18.

“I’m not as concerned with dual scores as the way the kids wrestled,” Scott said, “especially since we were short-handed.”

A couple of wrestlers involved in the state one-act contest on

Friday were not able to compete in Columbus on Saturday due to state rules, Scott said.

That left two weight classes open that wouldn’t have normally been uncontested.

Senior Dalton Goodwin, who wrestles in the 182-pound class, came away with the best weekend record of the Swedes at 6-3.

Dillon Larson, another senior, also had more wins than losses at 5-4.

“We still have areas where we need to improve but we can see that our guys are going to be able to grow,” Scott said. “We had kids who didn’t get out of the first period on the first day who were able to put opponents on their backs in pin position on Saturday. Even if they didn’t get the win, that’s progress.”

Gothenburg will travel to Grand Island this week for another two-day meet at the Flatwater Fracas at the Heartland Event Center.

Scott said the 32 teams involved from all classes face off in dual format in multiple pools Friday beginning at 1 p.m.

Records from Friday’s competition will determine new pools on Saturday.

Scott will be looking for further improvement with more mat time this weekend.

“The way to get better is to spend more time wrestling,” he said.

The Swedes should be able to fill 12 to 14 weight classes this week, if all goes well.

“Things come up, though,” he said. “Things change and we have to adapt. It’s all part of the broad scope of life lessons from wrestling.”

The Flatwater Fracas is Gothenburg’s final meet before the holiday break.

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